Utah has intense winters that can be tough on trees. That’s why we encourage all of our clients to be diligent about protecting their trees in the winter. There are a couple of things you can do to maintain tree health and prep for the transition into spring. Here are some of the most important tips we have for winter tree care in Utah.

Tips for Winter Tree Care in Utah

To protect your trees from the Utah winter, we recommend:

1. Protect any trees that are susceptible to freezing.

Young trees and any subtropical or tropical trees should not be left unprotected in the winter. If you are worried about a young tree freezing, cover it with a bag to insulate it. Ideally, you can stake down the bag so that there is no gap between the ground and the bag.

If you have any subtropical or tropical trees outside, you most likely have them in pots. It wouldn’t make much sense to plan such trees outside in our climate. Just remember to bring those pots inside.

2. Apply a thick layer of mulch around your trees.

A layer of mulch, approximately 4-5 inches, will do a lot to insulate the tree and retain moisture. Just be sure to apply the mulch correctly. Keep the mulch off of the tree trunk and do your best to flatten it out around the tree so that it sends water towards the trunk instead of away from it. Think about the shape of a crater, where there is a dip in the middle. Attempt to create that shape with your mulch.

3. Water trees in the winter.

Just because a tree is dormant doesn’t mean it doesn’t need water. Young trees require water in winter every week or two. Mature trees require water every month or two. Of course, if you are getting rain during the winter you will need to adjust the amount of water.

Attempt to water deeply, which you can do by leaving the water on low flow for an extended period of time.